- Apple’s $599 entry-level Mac mini with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is no longer available
- It now starts at $799 for 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
- Apple also continues to quote more than a month for delivery
Less than 24 hours after Apple’s earnings conference call in which CEO Tim Cook commented on supply chain issues plaguing the Mac mini (shipping dates for the popular entry-level Mac desktop unit have been falling), the price has risen and the old mid-range model is the new entry-level model on Apple.com.
MacRumors was the first to spot this change and the price has also increased internationally. The Mac mini now starts at £799 in the UK and AU$1,299 in Australia, both with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
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Basically, the $599 / £599 / AU$999 model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is discontinued, and the previous $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 mid-range Mac mini with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is now the entry level. Same hardware specs and cost, but that previous price is now the entry point.
As we noted in our review, when this updated Mac mini hit the market, it offered significant value, especially at the $599 price point in the United States. That value is a little tougher with a $200 MSRP increase, but the MacBook Neo arguably fills that spot, albeit with less power, while still being affordable.
Considering the current RAM crisis, which is impacting storage, and lag times for Apple’s Mac mini that have already stretched for weeks, this is likely a way for supply chain teams within the Cupertino-based tech giant to manage the model.
On the earnings call, Cook didn’t go into much detail or tease this upcoming change, but he did say, “We believe, going forward, that it may take several months for the Mac mini and Mac Studio to reach a balance between supply and demand.”
Even with the new base model, the Mac mini still shows a delivery estimate of several weeks. If you were to order it now, the estimated delivery is between June 9, 2026 and June 16, 2026, actually after WWDC 2026 starts.
We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on the changes to the Mac mini and will return when we hear back. And in the meantime, tell us what you think of this change to the Mac mini’s starting point.
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